In this WIN Insider episode, George interviews Jim Trezise, a legendary figure in the US wine industry, about his remarkable career from Navy journalist to transformative leader of New York State’s wine sector and president of WineAmerica. Jim shares his journey from living in France to his pivotal move from corporate executive at Conrail to managing a struggling New York wine grape growers association, where through collaborative advocacy and innovative legislation, he helped grow New York’s wineries from around 40 to over 400.

Now reflecting on decades of experience advocating for fair public policy and supporting all US wine regions, Jim discusses wine judging, evolving industry challenges including climate change and hemp products, and why he remains optimistic about wine’s future despite setbacks. His personal resilience story and commitment to unity, hope, and grit offer both inspiration and practical insight into policy advocacy that builds thriving wine communities.